Roundhouse equipment



F. H. C. COPPUS ROUNDHOUSE EQUIPMENT Filed Jan.

Juy ,4, i933.

Patented July 4, 1933 iJNirnD STATES Pare-nr cierren FRANS H. C. COPPUS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSTGNOE TO ANNA M. C. WECl-ISBERG, VERA. L. WOOD, AND FRANS H.y C. COPPUS, TRUSTEES, ALL OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ROUNDHOUSE EQUIPMENT Application filed January 20, 1932. Serial No. 557,736.

My invention relates to improvements in a roundhouse equipment consisting of an adjustable smoke jack for locomotives in roundhouses, which, in its preferred embodiment, includes means for inducing a draft through the locomotive.

The general object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character incorporating various novel and improved features and characteristics of construction.

The specific objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter. I

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which: f

Fig. 1 isa front elevational sectional view of one form of the apparatus embodying an exhauster showing in full lines the dampers in the position occupied when the eXhauster is in operat-ion and in dot-dash lines in the position occupied when the eXhauster is not in operation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental view similar to Fig. 1 showing one of the dampers in the position occupied when the eXhauster is not in operation;

3 is a side elevational sectional view on the line 3-3 0f Fig. 1 and showing in dot-dash lines the eXtreme longitudinal positions of the jack in relation to the track;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational sectional view of another form of the apparatus showing one exhauster applied to two jacks Fig. 5 is a top view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; and i Fig. 6 is av vertical sectional view on the line e-e or Fig. e.

In the drawing like characters of references indicate corresponding parts in each figure.A 1

R indicates the roof of the roundhouse. S indicates the top of the stack of a locomotive upon a track within a stall of the roundhouse.

The principal parts of the jack are the upper tubular member 1, the intermediate tubular member 2, and the lower tubular member 3. rlhe intermediate member is pivotally mounted on a ball and socket oint connected to the upper member, as will be explained in detail later. The lower member is telescopically mounted within'the intermediate member, but the means for operating the telescoping section and for swinging the jack about its pivot are not shown because they are no part of this invention and these operations may be accomplished by means of ropes running over pulleys and counterweighted or in any other suitable manner well known in the art.

The Lipper end 2a of the intermediate member is made spherically fitting within the cylindrical upper member. The clearance between them may be close so as to forma smoke tight joint, or considerable clearance may be allowed for the purpose of ventilatingtheroundhouse or inducing air to dilute the smoke. This feature forms no part of this invention and is covered by my co-pending application, Serial No. 473,066 filed August 4, 1980.

The upper member 1 is provided witha square flange 1a by which it is supported upon a raised portion of the roundhouse roof. In modern roun'dhouses having high roofs the ange la closes a hole in the roof through which the-upper member 1 projects. The upper member has arms 1b and a hub 1c, as plainly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.y A depending stud 4 terminating at its lower end in a spherical portion 4a (see Fig. 6) is fastened in the hub 1c.` The stud 4 is provided with stiifening'ribs 4Z). f The upper part 2a; of the intermediate member is provided with` arms 2b and a hub 2c (see Fig; 6) fitting over the spherical portion 4a of thestud 4 and havspherical portion 4a. It will therefore be seen that l have provided a novel, simple, and easy working arrangement for allowing the jack longitudinal and lateral movement which. is necessary to properly connect the v3ack vwith the smoke stack of a locomotive ing a cap 2d enclosing the bottom ofthe J8 of, and above this an eXhauster 6 preferably, but not necessarily, of the type vshown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 180,018, filed March 3l, 1927. lt will therefore be seen that the different parts of the apparatus can be easily assembled and disassembled giving the utmost accessibility to all parts, that the construction is light and compact and that all parts are in alignment with each other thereby offering the least obstruction to the `flow of the gases. The eX- hauster has a fan 6a driven by a motor 6?) which is connected through tubes 6c with the atmosphere through which air is drawn for cooling the motor when the eXhauster is in operation. A damper 7 of the hinge type in the boX 5 shuts olf communication of the jack to the atmosphere through the exhauster, and the dampers 8 allow communication of the jack with the atmosphere when the eXhauster is not in operation, but as soon as the exhauster is started, damper 7 opens and dampers 8 close due to the suction created by the eXhauster. The gases are therefore bypassed to the atmosphere if the jack should be applied to a locomotive stack, which is always necessary when an engine enters the roundhouse without a lire being drawn. This design permits of light and compact construction and affords flexibility as the dampers 8 may be arranged to regulate the communication with the atmosphere by means of an adjusting screw 8a (see Fig. 2) without interfering with the operation of the damper 7. The extent to which the dampers 8 should be opened and consequently the size of the communication with the atmosphere depends upon the season of the year and the prevailing roundhouse practice, which varies considerably. During the heating season the damper should be so adjusted that it does not open further than necessary to carry off the gases when the jack is applied to a locomotive stack, but outside of the heating season the dampers may be wide open thereby Ventilating the roundhouse. Again, in some roundhouses, it is the practice to dump the fire before the engine enters the roundhouse. ln this case no smoke is discharged from the stack of the engine and in order to prevent cold air entering through the grates, passing through the boiler tubes and up the stack and thereby sending heated air up the jack and lowering the steam pressure in the boiler, thus wasting heat, the dampers 8 may be locked in closed position or adjusted to open only slightly. However, in roundhouses where the iire is not drawn before the engine enters the roundhouse and consequently smoke issues from the locomotive stack for some time and must be conducted out of the roundhouse, the dampers must be open suiiiciently to allow the smoke to escape to the atmosphere.

Between the eXhauster 6 and the box 5 I provide an insulation 9 which may be of insulating material or it may be an air space separating the two members by distance bushings or the like. The purpose of this insulation is to prevent any transfer of heat from the box 5 to the eXhauster when the exhauster is not in operation in order not to destroy the windings of the motor of the exhaust/er.

To the upper members l of the two jacks shown in Fig. l jack extensions 5a are fastened, having adjustable dampers 8?) at the top. They communicate with a breeching l0, which has a damper l1 arranged to cut oil' communication of either, through the damper box 5b, with the exhauster 6 or to allow communication with either or both, according to the position of the damper. The dampers 8b are held open, by means of the counterweight 8c, when the eXhauster is not in operation or does not communicate with the corresponding j ack extension 5a, to the extent permitted by its adjusting screw 8a, rlhe damper ll is operated by means of a gear l2 and a worm 18 through a wheel 14 and chain l5 and will stay in any desired position. The dampers 8b correspond to the dampers 8V in Fig. l and these dampers, and also damper 7 in the boX 5?) below t-he eX- hauster, are shown in the position occupied when lth-e exhauster is in operation, with communication with one of the jacks cut oftl through damper ll. rfhe two wings of the damper in Figs. l and il are limited in their upward swing by a rod 5c extending through the damper box. lt will be seen that in the construction shown in Fig. t one eX- hauster serves two iacks7 one at a time or simultaneously as may be desired, which reduces the cost of installation, and while serving to draft one locomotive through one jack does not impair the usefulness of the other jack which may be connected with another locomotive, and thatwhen the eXhauster is not in operation, regardless of the position of damper ll, both jacks may be connected with locomotive stacks and conduct the gases therefrom to the atmosphere, without passing through the exhauster on account of the damper being closed, andwithout transmitting heat to the exhauster on account of the insulation 9 provided between the eX- hauster and the damper boX 5b.

While in Fig. 4 the upper members l are located within raised portions of the roundhouse roof and the breeching 10 is shown as above the roof of the roundhouse, which is usually necessary in a roundhouse having a low roof, the whole apparatus may be located below the roof in a modern roundhouse, with the exception of smoke outlets extending above the roof of the roundhouse.

lt will be seen that my invention embodies several important improvements, and it is Vto be understood that the disclosure is merely ioo illustrative and not intended in a limiting sense, and I am aware of the tact that changes can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited in this respect, but what I doclaim is l. In an apparatus of the character described, an uptake conduit adapted to lead from a locomotive stack, an exhauster adapted to communicate with said conduit, a damper arranged to shut off communication between sai-d conduit and said exhauster and means for insulating said conduit from said cxhauster.

2.In an apparatus of the character described, an uptake conduit adapted to lead from a locomotive stack, an exhauster adapted to communicate with said conduit, a damper arranged to shut off communication between said conduit and said exhauster, another damper .arranged to open communication between said conduit and the atmosphere when the exhauster is not in operation and means forv insulating said conduit from said eXhauster..V

3. In. an apparatus of the character described, an uptake conduit adapted to lead from a locomotive smoke stack, an exhauster with which said uptake conduit is adapted to communicate, a damper associated with the communication between said uptake conduit and said exhauster adapted to open communi-- cation between said conduit and said eX- hauster when the eXhauster is operatingand to close said communication when the opera-l tion otsaid exhauster is stopped, and another damper, independent of said lirst named damper, associ ated with a communication between said conduit and the atmosphere adapted toclose said communication when said exhauster is operating and to open said communication when the operationof said exhauster is stopped.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, an uptake conduit adapted to lead :trom a locomotive smoke stack, an eXhauster with which saiduptake conduit is adapted to communicate, Vmeans for insulating said uptake conduit from said exhauster, a damper associated with the communicationv between said uptake conduit and said eXhauster adapted to open communication between said conduit and sai-d exhauster when the exhauster is operating and to close said communication when the operation of said eXhauster is stopped, 'another fdamper, independent of said first named damper, associated with a communication between said conduit and the atmosphere adapted to close said communication when said eXhauster is operating and to open said communication when the operation of said exhauster is stopped.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, an-uptake conduit adapted to lead from a locomotive stack, an exhauster adapted to communicate with said conduit, a damper arranged to shut oft' communication betw-een said conduit and said exhauster, another damper arranged to open a communication between said conduit and the atmosphere when the exhauster is not in operation and means' for throttling said latter communication.

6. In an apparatus of the character described a stationary smoke jack tubular member provided with a iange for closing a hole in the roof of the roundhouse through which said member projects, a hub centrally located within said member and means depending from said hub for pivotally supporting a swinging tubular member adapted to be engaged with the stack of a locomotive and having a spherical upper portion the contour oi which forms a j-oint with a cylindrical portion of the stationary member in anyposition the swinging member may occupy.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a stationary smoke jack tubular member having a hub centrally located within said member and means depending from said hub for pivotally supporting a swinging tubular member adapted to be engagedy with the' stack of a locomotive and having` a spherical upper portion tlie contour oi which forms a joint with a cylindrical portion ot the. stationary member in any position the swinging member may occupy.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, an eXhauster, a conduit in vertical alignment therewith adapted to conduct products of combustion to the eXhauster from the stack of a locomotive and an outiet through which the products of combustion may escape without passing through the e5:- hauster.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit in vertical -alignment therewith adapted to conduct products of combustion to the exhauster from the stack of a locomotive, an outlet through which the products of combustion may escape without passing through the exhauster and a closure for said outlet. Y j

l0. In an apparatus of the character described, a stationary smoke jack tubular member associated with means for connecting it to a locomotive stack, an eXhauster in alignment with said member, a damper associated with the communication between said member and said eXh-auster adapted to open communication between said member and said eXhauster whenA the eXhauster is operating and to close said communication when thev operation of said eXhauster is stopped, and another damper associated with a conununication between said member andthe atmosphere adapted to close said communication when said exhauster is operating and to open said communication when the operation of said exhauster is stopped.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, an uptake conduit adapted to lead from a locomotive stack, an eXhauster in alignment with said conduit and -a damper arranged between said conduit and said eX- hauster to open communicationbetween said conduit and said eXhauster when the eX- hauster is in operation and to shut off said communication when the oper-ation of said exhauster is stopped.

12. 1n an apparatus of the character described, an uptake conduit adapted to lead from a locomotive stack, an eXhauster in alignment with said conduit, a damper arranged between said conduit and said eX- hauster to open communication between said conduit and said eXhaus-ter when the exhauster is in operation and to shut oti said communication when the operation et said eX- h-austcr is stopped and means ttor insulating said conduit from said. eXhauster.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit in alignment therewith connected to conduct products of combustion to the exhauster from the .Jtack of a locomotive, a be2; between the conduit and the exhauster and an outlet in the box leading to the atmosphere through which the products of combustion may escape without passing through the exhauster. A

14. ln an apparatus of the character described, an eXhauster, a conduit in alignment therewith connected to conduct products oit combustion to the cxhauster Jfrom the stack of a locomotive, a box between the conduit and the exhaust-er, an outlet in tliebox leading to the atmosphere through which the products oi combustion may escape without passing through the exhauster and aelosure for said outlet.

15.,.ln an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit in alignment therewith connected to conduct products of combustion to the exhauster from the stack of a locomotive, a box between the conduit and the exhauster having a damper arranged to shut oli communication between said conduit and said exhauster, an outlet in the boX leading to the atmosphere through which the products oi" combustion may escape without passing through the exhauster and a closure for said outlet.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit connecting the eXhauster with two uptake pipes adapted to lead from two locomotive stacks and a damper in the conduit adapted to connect one uptake pipe to the eXhauster and shut off 'the other uptake pipe.

17. 1n an apparatus or the character described, an exhauster, a conduit connecting the eXhauster with two uptake pipes adapted to lead from two locomotive stacks and a damper in the conduit adapted to throttle communication of either uptake pipe to the exhauster.

18. 1n an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit connecting the exhauster with two uptake pipes adapted to conduct products of combustion to the eX- hauster 1from two locomotive stacks, an outlet associated with the uptake pipes through which the. products or" combustion may escape ywithout passing through the eXhauster, and

closures tor said outlets.

19. ln an apparatus of the character described, an exhaust/er, a conduit connecting the exhauster with two uptake pipes adapted to conduct products ot combustion to the eX- hauster from two Vlocomotive stacks and an outlet associated with the uptake pipes through which Vthe products of combustion ma@7 escape without passing through the eX- hauster, closures for said'outlets and a damper in the conduit adapted to throttle the communication of either uptake pipe to the exhauster. Y

20. 1n an apparatus of the character described, an uptake conduit adapted to lead from a locomotive stack, an eXhauster adapted to communicate with said conduit, means for insulating said conduit from said eX- hauster, and a damper associated with a communication between said conduit and the atmos ihere adapted to close said communication when said eXhauster is operating and to open said communication when the operation of said exhauster is stopped.

21. 1n an apparatus of the character described, an uptake conduit adapted to lead from a locomotive stack, an exhauster adapted to communicate with said conduit, a. damper arranged to shut off communication between said conduit and said exhauster, another damper arranged to open communication between said conduit and the atmosphere when the enhauster is not in operation and to close said communication when the exhauster operating and means for insulating said conduit from said exhauster.

Q2. In an apparatus of the character described, an uptake conduit adapted to lead from a locomotive smoke stack, an eXhauster with which said uptake conduit is adapted to communicate, a damper associated with the communication between said uptake conduit and said exhauster adapted to open communication between said conduit and said exhauster when the eXhauster is operating and to close said communication when the operation of said exhauster is stopped, another damper, independent of said irst named damper associated with a communication between said. conduit and the atmosphere adapted to close said communication when said exhauster is operating and to open said communication when the operation of said eXhauster is stopped and means for throttling said latter communication.

23. In an apparatus of the character described, an uptake conduit adapted to lead from a locomotive stack, an eXhauster adapted to communicate with said conduit, a damper arranged to shut ott communication between said conduit and said eXhauster, another damper arranged to open a communication between said conduit and the atmos pliere when the eXhauster is not in operation and to close said communication when the ex; hauster is operating, and means for throttling said latter communication.

9A. In an apparatus of the character described, an eXhauster, a stationary smoke ack tubular member, in alignment with the eX- hauster, having a hub centrally located within sa-id member and means depending from said hub for pivotally supporting a swinging tubular member adapted to be engaged with the stack of a locomotiveand having a spherical upper portion the contour of which forms a joint with a cylindrical portion o'l the stationary member in any position the swinging member may occupy.

25. In an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a stationary smoke jack tubular member', in alignment with the eX- hauster, having an outlet through which the products of combustion may escape without passing through the eXhauster and ahub centrally located within said member and means depending from said hub for pivotally supporting a swinging tubular member adapted to be engaged with the stack of a locomotive and having a spherical upper portion the contour of which forms a joint with a cylindrical portion ofthe stationary member in any position the swinging member may occupy.

26. .In an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a stationary smoke jack tubular member, in alignment with the eXhauster, having an outlet through which the products of combustion may escape without passing through the exhauster and a damper to shut ottl the eXhauster from said member, `a hub centrally located within said member and means depending from said hub for pivotally supporting a swinging tubular member adapted to be engaged with the stack of a locomotive and having a spherical upper port-ion the contour of which forms a joint with a cylindrical portion of the stationary member in any position the swinging member may occupy.

27. In an apparatus of the character described, an eXhauster, a conduit in vertical alignment therewith adapted to conduct products of combustion to the eXhauster from the stack of a locomotive, a damper adapted to shut oit the eXhauster from said conduit and an outlet, through which the products ot combustion may escape without passing 'through the eXhauster.

28.y In an apparatus of the character def v cape without passing through the exhauster l 'l and means for throttling said outlet.

29. In an apparatus of the character described, an eXhauster, a conduit in vertical alignment therewith, adapted to conduct products of combustion to the exhauster from the stack of a locomotive and a damper associated with a communication between said conduit and the atmosphere adapted to close said communication when said eXhauster is operating and to open said communication when the operation of said eXhauster is stopped.

30. In an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit in vertical alignment therewith, adapted to conduct products et combustion to the eXhauster Jfrom the stack of a locomotive and a damper adapted to open communication between said conduit and said eXhauster when the exhauster is operating and to close said communication when the operation of said eX- hauster is stopped.

31. In an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit in vertical alignment therewith, adapted to conduct products ot combustion to the eXhauster from the stack of a locomotive, a damper adapted to open communication between said conduit and said exhauster when the eXhauster is operating and to close said communication when the operation of said eXhauster is stopped, and another damper associated with a communication between said conduit and' the atmosphere adapted to close said communication when said exhauster is operating and to open said communication when the operation of said eXhauster is stopped.

32. In an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit in vertical alignment therewith, adapted tov conduct products of combustion to the exhaustery from the stack of a locomotive, means for insulating said eXhauster from said conduit and an outlet through which the products ot combustion may escape without passing through the eXhauster.

33. In an apparatus of the characted dealignment therewith, adapted to conduct products of combustion to the exhauster from the stack of a locomotive, an outlet through which the products of combustion may esscribed, an eXhauster, a conduit 1n vertical' cape without passing through the eXhauster,

a closure for said outlet and means for throttling said outlet.

34. In an apparatus of the character described, a stationary smoke jack tubular member associated with means for connecting it to a locomotive stack, an exhauster in alignment with said member, means for insulating said member from said exhauster, a damper associated with the communication between said member and said exhauster adapted to open communication between said conduit` and said exhauster when the exhauster is operating and to close said communication when the operation of said exhauster is stopped and another damper associated with a communication between said member and the atmosphere adapted to close said communication when said exhauster is operating and to open said communication when the operation of said exhauster is stopped.

35. ln an apparatus or the character described, an xhauster, a conduit connected to conduct products of combusion to the exhauster from the stack ot a locomotive, a box between the conduit and the exhauster, an outlet in the box leading to the atmosphere through which the product-s of combustion may escape without passing through the exhauster and a door associated with said outlet adapted to close the outlet when the exhauster is put in operation and to open the outlet when the operation ot the exhauster is stopped.

ln an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit connected to conduct products of combustion to the exhauster from the stack of a locomotive, a box between the conduit and the exhauster, a damper in the box adapted to open when the exhauster is put in operation and to close when the operation of the exhauster is stopped and an outlet in the box leading to the atmosphere through which the products of combustion may escape without passing through the exhauster.

37. In an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit connected to conduct products o1e combustion to the exhauster from the stack of a locomotive, a box between the conduit and the exhauster, adamper in the box adapted to open communication between said conduit and said exhauster when the exhauster is operating and to close said communication when the operation of said exhauster is stopped.

38. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, an exhauster, a conduit connected to conduct products of combustion to the eX hauster from the stack of a locomotive, a box between the conduit and the exhauster, a damper in the box adapted to open communication between said conduit and said exhauster when the exhauster is put in operation and to close said communication when the operation of the exhauster is stopped, an outlet in the box leading to the atmosphere through which the products of combustion may escape without passing through the exhauster and a do-or associated with said outlet adapted toclose the outlet when the exhauster is put in operation and to o `)en the outlet when the operation of the exlhauster is stopped.

39. ln an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit connecting the exhauster with two uptake pipes adapted to lead from two locomotive stacks, each uptake pipe having an outlet through which the products of combustion may escape without passing through the exhauster, a damper in the conduit adapted to connect one uptake pipe to the exhauster and shut off the other uptake pipe andmeans associated with the o-utlet of each uptake pipe adapted to close the outlet of the uptake pipe which is connected to the exhauster when the exhauster is put in operation and to open said outlet when the operation of the exhauster is stopped.

410. In an apparatus of the character described, an exhauster, a conduit connecting the exhauster with two uptake pipes adapted to conduct products of combustion to the exvhauster from two locomotive stacks, outlets associated with the uptake pipes through which the products of combustion may escape without passing through the exhauster, and means associated with said outlets adapted to close when the exhauster is put in operation and to open when the operation of the exhauster is stopped.

FRANS H. C. COPPUS. 

